Tucked into the corner of a lot on Philadelphia’s Jasper Street, about six miles north of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Broad Street and everything else that makes Philly the City of Brotherly Love, Danny “Swift” Garcia owns a complex that might be the key to his post-fight life.
Or at least allows him to flex his inner mogul while he’s still in the ring.
Behind a low-slung iron gate with flags promising “100% hand car wash” and “auto repair” is a red brick building that comprises the majority of Garcia's business empire: an auto detailing/mechanic shop, his gym, a private recording studio, the DSG Barber Shop (complete with its own app!) and soon, a beauty salon.
The gym came first, of course, but the barber shop soon followed in July 2013. Why a barber shop? Because Danny Garcia used to keep his friends and family fresh on his own.
“I used to be a neighborhood barber,” Garcia said. “I used to cut hair on my porch. I was about 16 or 17. I always cut my dad, my brother, all my friends. I always wanted everyone to look nice.”
The car wash/detailing shop also does minor auto maintenance, while the recording studio is more of a private affair set up for Garcia’s friends and little sisters Sianney and Angelise, who as the SiAngie Twins just released their first EP My All on iTunes.
“We have five businesses in one and it’s just great, giving people jobs in the community,” Garcia said. “Everybody’s happy here. Every day we have a great vibe. I’m always in the barber shop talking to the barbers.”
Of course, Garcia has been spending most of his time in the gym recently getting ready to fight Lamont Peterson in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, live on NBC at 8:30 p.m. ET. Get full details on Garcia vs. Peterson.
That leaves Garcia’s father and trainer, Angel, to handle the day-to-day running of the businesses. Danny Garcia insists he’s just the “face,” for now.
Then again, if he ever needs to scare up some quick work between fights, he could always go back to cutting hair.
“No, I hung ’em up,” he said. “When I turned pro, I started making money and I hung ’em up.”
Fine, well. There’s always “music mogul.”